Men's College Basketball
Iona College 91, Rider University 71
NEW ROCHELLE, NY-The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Iona Friday night on ESPNU.
The game was Rider's eighth road game in the last nine contests. "It's been a touch stretch," said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey
The loss was Rider's third in a row after three straight wins.
For Rider (6-14, 3-5 MAAC), senior Jeff Jones (Chester, PA/Monsignor Bonner) compiled 17 points on seven for eight shooting from the field in 21 minutes off the bench.
Iona (15-4, 7-1 MAAC) out-scored Rider 11-4 to start the second half, eight points by Lamont Jones, to take a 57-36 lead with 17 minutes left to play. "That was an important stretch," Dempsey said. "That quick start in the second half put them up 20 and now they have you right where they want you."
A transfer from Arizona, Jones finished with 20 points.
"They are a tough team to stop," Dempsey said. "We were not up to the challenge. When you come up here you have to hope they don't play well and tonight they played very well. When they are on their game like they were tonight they are going to beat everybody in this league."
Holding a 19-18 lead, Iona went on a 19-7 run, nine points by Sean Armand, to take a 38-25 lead with 2:10 left in the first half, and Iona led 46-32 at the half. Armand made five three-point field goals and finished with 15 points.
MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Mike Glover compiled 21 points and nine rebounds, both game-highs. Glover leads the MAAC in scoring and is third in rebounding and is second in the nation in field goal percentage.
Iona led 14-8 before Rider went on an 8-2 run, four points by senior Brandon Penn (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson), to tie the score at 16-16. Penn finished with 10 points and five rebounds.
Trailing 8-5, Iona went on a 9-0 run, four points by Jones, to take a 14-8 lead with 15:28 left to play.
Rider jumped out to an 8-5 lead, six points by senior Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram). Gadson finished with 10 points and now has 1,315 career points, 19th most ever at Rider and two points shy of 18th.
Sophomore Anthony Myles (Dover, DE/Poly-Tech) added 14 points and five rebounds off the bench and junior Jonathon Thompson (Orlando, Fla./Jones) had six assists for the Broncs. Sophomore Daniel Stewart (Philadelphia, PA/Neumann-Goretti) added eight points and seven rebounds. Freshman Eddie Mitchell (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle) added eight points and three assists
Gael point guard Scott Machado, who leads the nation with over 10 assists per game, finished with 11 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds. "He's the best point guard I've seen in this league, ever, and I've been in this league nine years now," Dempsey said.
As a team, Iona had 27 assists on 34 baskets made. "Iona passes the ball so well," Dempsey said. "When you pass like that you get open shots. There is a reason they are 15-4 and the class of the league."
Iona is ranked sixth in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll,
Rider and Iona have now met 48 times since the series began in 1949-50, with Rider winning 22, including seven of the last 13. Since joining the MAAC Rider is 14-18 against Iona.
The Gaels are 5-1 at home this season. Iona was 8-1 at home against MAAC teams last year, the lone loss coming to Rider.
The Broncs return home Sunday to host Canisius at 3pm. "We're looking forward to getting back home," Dempsey said. "Hopefully we'll play well when we get there."
Rider has had just six home games this season, but will now play seven of the final 10 conference games at home.
-ru-
